Conductor clamp



F, G. BOVARD CONDUCTOR CLAMP Jam., 28 @36 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 29, 1954 INVENTOR 4 ATTORN f/oyd 6, Sal/afd.

Ff Ga. BGN/ARD CONDUCTOR CLAMP 5 sheets-sheet' V2 Filed Aug. 29, 1934 INVENTOR #5 .gl/@yd BY f avr/Q ATToRNE 2go? 119350 F, G, BOVARD @,gggl

CONDUCTOR CLAMP Filed Aug. 29, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 xNvENToR f/oyd 6. 50 myd.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 28, 1936 UNITED STATES CONDUCTOR CLAMP Floyd G. Bavard, Akron, Ohio, assigner to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Application August 29,

9 Claims.

This invention relates to suspension clamps for electrical conductors, and particularly to clamps for supporting heavy conductors such as are used on high tension transmission lines.

One object of the invention is to provide a conductor support which will reduce the stresses placed upon the conductor to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conductor support which will leave the conductor as free to move as possible.

, Another object of the invention is to provide a conductor support which will transmit to the string of insulators, by which it is carried, a minimum amount of any vibrations present in the conductor.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for clamping a conductor which will grip the conductor about substantially its entire periphery and eiectively hold the conductor with- 20 out injury thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide a conductor support which shall be economical to manufacture, easy to install, and which shall be of improved construction and operation.

Other objects and advantages will appear from the following description.

The invention is exemplified by the combination and arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings and described in the following specication, and it is more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of a conductor support illustrating one embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the device vshown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 4 4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation with parts in section showing a modified form of the invention.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section on line 6-5 of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an elevation of a conductor clamp embodying some features of the invention.

Fig. 8 is an elevation with parts in section showing another modification of the invention.

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are fragmentary sectional views showing different steps in the process of assembling one feature of the invention.

In the operation o electrical transmission lines, and particularly those having heavy conductors 1934, Serial No. 741.981

for heavy current work, it is found that the conductors are apt to break after a period of time, due to fatigue set up by vibration at the points of support. It is also found that the supporting insulators are apt to be injured if excessive vibration is transmitted to them from the conductor. In the present invention these and other diiculties incident to the support of electrical conductors are avoided by means of a supporting clamp in which the conductor rests and which is suspended from the insulator string.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the numeral I0 designates a conductor which may be of the hollow type, and which is carried in a saddle II which is in the form of a trough having ears I2 by which it is pivotally suspended from the insulator string by meansof a pivot pin I3 or other suitable support. The conductor ID rests loosely in cradle members or seats I5 which are mounted at opposite ends of the saddle II and are supported by rollers I6 arranged to travel on tracks or run-Ways Il. The side walls of the saddle member II are spaced outwardly adjacent the run-ways I1 to provide pockets for the rollers I6. The seats I5 are provided with outwardly extending flanges I8 which rest upon the upper peripheries of the rollers I6 so that the cable seats I5 are free to tilt pivotally about their points of support and to travel in the direction of the length of the cable I D. The anges I8 and the rollers IB are retained in their pockets by any suitable retainer, such as cotter pins I9. This permits the cable to adjust itself on its support so as to relieve any stress which otherwise might be imparted to the cable if it were held rigidly.

The amount of longitudinal movement of the cable relative to the supporting saddle is limited by a stop member or clamp secured to the cable at the middle of the supporting saddle. This clamp comprises a bottom member 20 having a curved face arranged to conform to the contour of the cable. A plurality of cooperating contact bars 2I are also provided with curved faces for engaging the conductor. If desired, sheet liners 22 may be interposed between the clamping members 2B and 2| and the periphery of the cable I 0.

The clamping members are held against the periphery of the cable by U-bolts 23 which engage openings in ears 24 extending outwardly from the sides of the bottom member 2U. The bottom member 20 may be made suihciently ilexible that its upper edges will be bent inwardly by U-bolts 23 a suli'icient amount to produce substantially uniform pressure throughout the entire contact surface of the member 25. Since a plurality of contact members 2l vare employed, it is apparent that they will be moved inwardly against the cable, giving substantiallyV uniform pressure about theV entire periphery of the cable. If desired, the upper edges oi the contact member 2i! may be provided with upwardly extending wedge shaped flanges 25 which engage beveled faces on the lower edges of the adjacent contact members 2l to press the edges of these contact members inwardly against the cable. YThe sides vof the supporting saddle ll .are bent outwardly to accommodate Vthe rstop formed by the clamping members 25 and 2l, and inwardly projecting lugs 26 extend between the ears 24 to limit longitudinal movement of the cable relative to the supporting saddle ll. Suflcient clearance is provided between the lugs 2S and ears 24 to permit sullcient longitudinal `movement of the cable for preventing excessive stresses. Abnormal longitudinal movements, such as would otherwise occur in case the cable is broken, are however prevented. The bottom portion of the saddle il is cut out to accommodate the lower ends olf the U-bolts, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. The stop member clamped to the cable at the middle of Ythe saddle is carried entirely by the cable and does not rest upon the saddle nor bear against the saddle in any way except to limitV excess longitudinal movement of the cable relative to the saddle. l

Instead of providing a central stop for limiting longitudinal movementrof the cable, as shown in Fig. 1, the cable seats at the ends of the supporting saddle may be clampedto the cable and provided with meansrfor preventing excess longitudinal movement of the cable relative t-o the saddle. An arrangement of this kind is shown in Figs. 5 and 6. In these figures the supporting saddle is designated'by the numeral 21 and is provided with a run-way 28 at each side of the saddle for supporting rollers 29 onwhich the flanges 3B of the cable seats rest. The flanges 3U are formed integral with the bottom member 3| of fa' cable clamp, similarV to that shown in Fig. 3. A plurality of clamping members 32 cooperate with the bottom member 3l togrip the cable 33. vThese clamping members are pressed against the cable by U-bolts 34m a manner similar to the operation of the U-bolts 23 in Fig. 3. VStud screws 35 may be used to retain the gripping seats in place and prevent them from being lifted suiiiciently to permit the escape of the rollers 29. Excess longitudinal movement of the cable is prevented by stops 55 arranged to engage beneath projecting Y ends 3l of 'the run-wayv 28. VWhere a gripping seat member, like that shown in Fig. 5 isprovided at each end oi the cable, it will be unnecessary to provide a stop at the middle of the saddle since excessive longitudinal movement will be limited by the stops on the clamping seat members. The seat members, however, are free to pivot about the rollers 29 to accommodate themselves toV any angular position of the cable and also free to move longitudinally of the supporting saddle 2l to prevent longitudinal stresses in the cable.

For some purposes, especially for lighter work, the form of supporting clamp shown in Fig. 7 may be employed in which the cable 38 is clamped Vdirectly to the saddle member 39 by means' of a keeper piece l0 and U-bolts ill. A suspension bracket or itting l2 is provided with roller seats 43 supporting rollers lll which engage anges A5 extending laterally Vfrom the upper edges of the saddle 39. The rollers 44 thus provide a trunnion support for the saddle 39' and also permit limited longitudinal movement of the saddle relative to its support. Excess longitudinal movement is prevented by stops i5 disposed in position to engage the projecting ends 4l of the runway 53.

In the form of the invention shown-in Fig. 8, the saddle 68 is provided at one end Vwith a clamping seat 55, like that shown in Fig. 5, and at its opposite end is provided with an open seat 55, like that shown in Fig. 1. The clamping seat 39 in this case will be relied upon for limiting excess longitudinal movement of the'conductor `lll relative to the saddle i8 and the cable will be free to move any desired extent relative to the seat 5G. For normal longitudinal movements Vof the cable, the seat 5D will travel upon its roller support 5l but for any excessive movement, the cable is free to slide on the seat. A.

In place of providing removable retainers, ras shown at i9 and 35 in Figs. 4 and 6, the pocket for retainingthe supporting Yroller for the cable Seat may be shaped to retain the roller and seat in place, as shown in Figs. 9, l0 and 11. In this case the pocket is provided with an overhanging flange 52 leaving an opening 53 through which the ilange 54 on the seat 55 may be inserted into the pocket, as shown in Fig.'9.

After the seat has entered the pocket, it may be moved to an extreme position, as shownin Fig. 10, whichprovides sumcient space for the roller 56 to be inserted through the opening 53. After theroller has been inserted, the seat may be returned to its operating position, asrshown in Fig. ll, in which case the flange 55 approaches the run-way 5'! so as prevent escape ofthe roller` 56.v This arrangement will retain the roller and seat in position so long as theV cable is in place and until the seat is intentionally moved to the abnormal position shown in Fig. 10 to permit removal of the roller. V f

I claim:

1. The combination with a conductor, of a support for said conductor, a seat for said conductor mounted on said support, and a roller bearing having relativelytravelling connection with both said seat and support to facilitate longitudinal movement of said seat relative to said support.

2. The combination with a conductor, of a support for said conductor, a seat for said conductor mounted on said support, and a roller bearing having relatively travelling connection with both said seat and said support and constituting a pivotal mounting for said seat and facilitatingrmovement of Vsaid seat relative to said support in the direction of the axis of said conductor. Y

3. The combination with a conductor, of a supportfor said conducton'said support having a track thereon, a roller mounted on said track to travel thereon in the direction of the axis of said conductor, and a seat forV said conductor.

carried by said roller for movement along said track in the direction of the axis of said conductor.

4. The combination with a conductor, of a supportV for said conductor having horizontally extending arms, tracks at the ends of said arms, rollers mounted on said tracks, conductor seats carried Vby said rollers and movable thereon in` the direction of the axis of said conductor, said rollers constituting pivotal supports for said seats,

and a stop for limiting the longitudinal move- Vment of said conductor relative to said support.

5. The combination with a conductor, of a seat for said conductor and a roller bearing for supporting said seat, saidroller bearing having relatively travelling connection .with said seat and constituting a pivotal support for said seat and facilitating movement of said seat in the direction of the axis of said conductor.

6. The combination With a conductor, of a clamp for gripping said conductor, said clamp comprising a contact member for engaging a portion of the periphery of said conductor, a plurality of cooperating contact members in addition to said rst-named contact member, said rst-named contact member having lugs thereon, and U-bolts engaging said cooperating contact members and said lugs for clamping said contact members against the periphery of said conductor, said contact members being peripherally displaced from one another about said conductor and said first named contact member having flanges at the edges thereof overlapping the edges of the other contact members respectively.

'7. The combination With a conductor, of a clamp for said conductor comprising a main contact member and a plurality of cooperating contact members, said contact members extending about diierent peripherally displaced portions respectively of the periphery of said conductor,

means for clamping said contact member against said conductor, and roller bearing means for supporting said clamp.

8. 'Ihe combination with a conductor, of a clamp for supporting said conductor, said clamp 5 comprising more than two contact members disposed at different angular positions about said conductor and each extending less than 180 degrees about the periphery of said conductor, means for clamping said contact member against said conductor, and a 'roller bearing for supporting said clamp to facilitate longitudinal movement thereof with said conductor, said roller bearing constituting a pivotal support for said Clamp.

9. The combination with a conductor, of a support for said conductor having substantially horizontally extending arms and a pair of conductor seats mounted respectively on the outer ends of said arms, said seats being movable with said conductor relative to said arms in the direction of the axis of said conductor, and roller bearings having relatively travelling connection with both said seats and arms to facilitate movement of Said seats in the direction of the axis of said conductor While providing pivotal supports for said seats.

FLOYD G. BOVARD. 

